Combined table and desk for children



J. A. ALEXANDER COMBINED TABLE A ND DESK FOR CHILDREN May 3, 1949.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct, 9 1944 May 3, 1949. .1. A. ALEXANDER COMBINED TABLE AND DESK FOR CHILDREN 2 Shets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 9, 1944 Patented May 3, 19 49 COMBINED TABLE AND DESK FOR CHILDREN John A. Alexander, Berkeley, Calif. I r Application October 9, 1944, Serial No. 557,864 7 1 Claim.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in convertible furniture, the principal object being to provide a piece of child's furniture which can be converted from time to time to be used by a child through a considerable span of years. o

Another important object of the invention is to provide an article of furniture having legs which can be readily adjusted to increase the height of the piece of furniture whenever desired.

' A further object of the invention is to provide apiece ofchilds furniture in the form of a work table which can be conveniently converted into a desk.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a childs work table having a cut-out portion'for receiving the upper portion of a high chair. V

Various other important objects and advantages of the invention shall become apparent to the reader of the following description.

In the drawings: 7

I Figure 1 represents a top'plan view of the table top with a portion of the insert broken away.

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the work table with the fencein place and a portion of the table broken away, to disclose the manner of mounting the fence. 7

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the work tabl Figure 4 is a fragmentary detailed sectional view taken on line 44 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a side elevational view of the table, converted into a desk, and with parts broken away.

Figure 6 is a top plan View of the desk with a portion of the top broken away to disclose the work table and its insert.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of one of the sections of the legs shown in Figure 5.

Figure 8 is a section taken on line 88 of Figure 5 (enlarged).

Figure 9 is a side elevational view of a modified form of adjustable leg with portions in section.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view taken on line Ill-l0 of Figure 9.

Figure 11 is an end elevational view looking at the socket end of one of the sections shown in Figure 9.

Figure 12 is a fragmentary side elevational view showing modified leg construction.

Figure 13 is a transverse vertical section taken substantially on the plane of the line |3--l3 of Figure 12.

Referring to the drawings, wherein like nu- Cil merals designate like parts, it can be' se'en thato numeral 5 denotes a childs work table top ifs'up ported by leg structures, generally referred'to' by numeral 6. 'Each of the leg structures 6 is made up of a plurality of parallel, interlapping leg sections 1, each having a longitudinal slot BtherIe'in'. The opposed sides of the sections 1 are undulated,

as at 9, and these undulated surfaces mesh in the edge' of the table top in order to receive the up per portion of a high chair, as in the manner shown in Figure 3. The usual trayof the high chair may fit over the table top, as shown in Figure 3, so that articles thrown' off the tr a yloby the child will simply fall onto the surface of the table top 5. Of course, the tray of the high chair may be swung back. The edge of the tabletop 5 atthe cut-out portion I2 is beveled so as to support the beveled edge l3 of a substantially ovate-shaped insert I l. Obviously, the insert I4 is disposed in the position shown in Figure 4 when the table top 5 is to be employed apart from a high chair.

The four corners of the table top 5 are formed with recesses l5 for receiving outwardly inclined posts It which support a net or fence I! which preferably extends along the front and sides of the table top 5 and behind the chair A, where the ends can be tied together. This fence serves to prevent displacement of toys and other items a child may be playing with while sitting at the table.

The sockets or recesses l5 are also employed for receiving depending studs l8 which depend from the four corners of a desk box I!) having an open bottom and a hinged lid 20.

As shown in Figure 6, the desk box I9 is disposed over the table top 5 with the insert [4 in place, whereby the top and insert provide a. bottom for the compartment of the desk l9.

Of course, the legs shown in conjunction with the converted desk (see Fig. 5) are shortened over the height of the table when used in conjunction with a high chair, as shown in Figure 3.

A modification of the adjustable leg structure is shown in Figure 12, and generally referred to by numeral 2|. The leg structure 2| consists of a pair of adjustable leg sections 22, 23 having smooth opposed sides and transversely grooved outermost sides 24. Numeral 25 denotes a U clamp, the bight portion of which engages in the grooves 24 of one section, while a cross bar 26 having a longitudinal rib 27 engages in the grooves of the complemental section and nuts 28 are provided on thethreaded plate portions of the U clamp 25 to hold the parts firmly in the adjusted position shown in Figure 12.

Figures 9, l0 and 11 disclose another leg structure, this consisting of an elongated section 29 having an elongated bore 30 in the lower end thereof. This merges with a counter-bore 3i and the counter-bore in turn is stepped up to a larger bore 32.

Against the shoulder between the bores 3|, 32 is secured the flanges 33 of an internally threaded bushing 34 which fits inthe counter-bore 3|.

A plurality of connectable short sections 35 are employable with the long section '29, and each of the short sections 35 has a bore therethrough for receiving an elongated connecting rod The uppermost short leg section 35 has a reduced extension 31 fitting snugly in the bore 32.

Each short section 35 has a recess in the lower portionthereof, denoted by numerals 38, for receiving the reduced end portion 39 of the underlying short section 35. As can be seen in Figure 10, the connecting rod 36 extends upwardly through the short section 35 and screws the plug 34. Obviously, these short legs can be added or removed to determine the height at which the table top 5 is to be placed.

Obviously, the elevated structure shown in Figure 3 will be used by small children of the high chair age. As the child becomes older, the insert I4 is placed in the position, as shown in Figures 1 and 4, and if desired, glued or otherwise secured in that position. The child may then use the fence I! While he or she is playing with toys on the table top.

When the child becomes of school age, the desk box I!) may be set over the table top and the child then has a desk within which to keep school papers and other items.

Obviously, when these various changes are made, adjustment of theadjustable leg structures will be required.

While the foregoing specification sets forth the invention in specific terms, it is to be understood that numerous changes in the shape, size and materials may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed hereinafter.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

In a childs article of furniture, the combination with a table top having side edges, of a plurality of sockets formed in said top around marginal portions thereof, a vertically-extending closed fram having an open bottom, depending studs on said frame and detachably seating in said sockets whereby said top comprises a bottom for said frame, and a hinged top for said frame.

JOHN A. ALEXANDER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES FATENTS Number Name Date 23,379 Lochman Mar. 29, 1859 135,392 Wilson Jan. 28, 1873 292,657 Kirkpatrick Jan. 29, 1884 367,309 Meredith July 26, 1887 451,755 Clark May 5, 1891 581,127 McCorkle Apr. 20, 1897 1,090,752 Quackenbush Mar. 17, 1914 1,286,629 Herzog Dec. 3, 1918 1,313,330 Pocock Aug, 19, 1919 1,353,728 Dence Sept. 21, 1920 1,398,318 Courehene Nov. 29, 1921 1,407,405 Girard Feb. 21, 1922 1,437,670 Mazoch Dec. 5, 1922 1,652,465 Weinstein Dec. 13, 1927 1,990,869 Joyce Feb. 12, 1935 2,129,384 Ralston Sept. 6, 1938 2,161,657 Hansburg June 6, 1939 2,161,658 Hansburg June 6, 1939 2,291,373 Button July 28, 1942 2,346,919 Hillenbrand Apr. 18, 1944 2,386,721 Sedita Oct. 9, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 276,909 Great Britain Sept, 8, 1927 778,597 France Mar. 18, 1935 

